[TR] TR4 Starter question

[Randall]

Except that the rubber coupling was eliminated during the TR3A; a TR4
shouldn't have one.

But you bring up a very good point.  The TR4 still uses a Bendix, which
automatically disengages the starter when the engine fires.  If the engine
fires once but doesn't start, the starter is disengaged and wont engage
again until you let off the key (or button on a TR3) and let it stop
spinning.

Perhaps what Jim is hearing is the hum of the starter motor spinning
uselessly after the Bendix has kicked out.

In that case, he needs a tune-up rather than a starter rebuild.  It's just
the nature of the beast.  Eliminating that "feature" was one of the best
benefits from going to a gear drive starter IMO.  (The gear drive starters
use a solenoid and an overrunning clutch rather than a Bendix, so if the
engine fires but doesn't start, they just go back to cranking.)

-- Randall

> My guess is the hum is the rubber coupling in the starter 
> pawl is slipping.  Time for rebuild.
>